NorCo Liberty Bell Finally in Courthouse Rotunda

Liberty Bell finally in rotunda

One of my first stories as a blogger was about Northampton County's forgotten Liberty Bell. It was tucked away in some forgotten hallway. In response to numerous complaints from yours truly, former Executive John Stoffa had it moved next to some courtrooms. That way some people would see it. I felt the best spot was the rotunda, where every visitor would see it. Guess what? It's finally there, where it belongs.

I understand that Administrator Charles Dertinger is the reason this finally happened. 

The iron tongue of Northampton County's Liberty Bell proclaimed Independence on July 8, 1776, in Easton's circle. It tolled from our first courthouse. In fact, that bell is all that's left of the original courthouse.

It was first forged in 1768, and summoned the people of Easton to fight fires, rang out the opening of court sessions, and was also used to announce news. The bell tolled to announce courthouse sessions when the courthouse moved from Easton's Centre Square to its current location in 1861.

Thousand of county residents lined Easton's streets at the end of WWII to tug on the Northampton County Liberty Bell, which rang out for twenty-four hours.

Northampton County's Liberty Bell is a symbol of independence and a warning against tyranny

There is a terrible poetry in the sound of that State House Bell at dead of night, when striking its sudden and solemn — One! — It rouses crime from its task, mirth from its wine-cup, murder from its knife, bribery from its gold. There is a terrible poetry in that sound. It speaks to us like a voice from our youth — like a knell of God's judgment — like a solemn yet kind remembrancer of friends, now dead and gone.

There is a terrible poetry in that sound at dead of night: but there was a day when the echo of that Bell awoke a world, slumbering in tyranny and crime!

Yes, as the old man swung the Iron Tongue, the Bell spoke to all the world. That sound crossed the Atlantic — pierced the dungeons of Europe — the work shops of England — the vassal-fields of France.

That Echo spoke to the slave — bade him look from his toil — and know himself a man.

That Echo startled the Kings upon their crumbling thrones.

That Echo was the knell of King-craft, Priest-craft and all other crafts born of the darkness of ages, and baptized in seas of blood.

Northampton County's Historic Liberty Bell Getting Some Respect

I first told you about the Northampton County Liberty Bell over a year ago. Its iron tongue announced our Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. It sang nonstop for over twenty-four hours at the conclusion of the second world war. Yet this great symbol of our liberty sat forlornly in a forgotten corner at the end of a lonely hall. Easels and courtroom furniture were propped up against this great monument, and the bell itself was littered with fast food menus.

Last Fall, county executive Stoffa ordered the bell moved immediately next to the rotunda, where it could be seen and appreciated by members of the public doing business at the courthouse. Since that time, he has worked with The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society and former executives Glenn Reibman and Jerry Seyfried to find someone who could prepare a history. Len Buschemi, a local historian with first-hand knowledge, came up with a great account, and has kindly allowed me to share it with you.

Northampton County was sliced out of Bucks County and on March 7, 1752, Northampton County was born. Easton was named as the County Seat.

The first court was held on the 16th of June, 1752. There was no courthouse so court proceedings were conducted in hotels such as The Bachman tavern at 2d and Northampton Streets until 1766.

The assembly voted in 1763 to erect a courthouse in Northampton County. There was controversy over where to erect the courthouse. Some did not want it erected in Easton for they said Easton was in the extreme southeast portion of the new County. At that time Northampton County extended far to the north and west. They also said Easton had no roads and was surrounded by hills. The assembly held out that the courthouse was to be erected in Easton. George Taylor was one of the trustees appointed to oversee the construction of the courthouse.

In the beginning court sessions only lasted a few days. The Northampton County Courthouse was erected in the middle of the Great Square, holding its first session in 1766. The cost to erect the courthouse was $4,589.67. The two story courthouse was modeled after Carpenter's hall in Philadelphia. In 1766 there were only 63 homes in Easton.

A bell manufactured by the Moravians in Bethlehem was installed in the cupola in 1768.

On July 8, 1776 the bell rang as Mr. Leavers read the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Courthouse. In all of the colonies this was the third reading of the Declaration. Only Philadelphia and Trenton had previously read the Declaration.

In 1812 the bell rang for "Freedom of the Seas."

In 1847 the bell rang for "Freedom of Texas."

The building was falling into disrepair and in 1860 a new courthouse on the outskirts of Easton was erected. The old courthouse was razed in 1861. The bell was placed in the bell tower of the new courthouse.

In 1863 in the new courthouse the bell rang for "Freedom of the slaves."

In 1898 the bell rang for "Freedom of Cuba."

In 1917 the bell rang for "Freedom of the World War."

In September 1945 at the end of World War II the bell rang again. As a youngster I remember signing the book and ringing the bell that glorious day in September 1945.

I do not remember hearing the bell ring again after 1945.

That great old bell, like our liberty itself, is something we tend to take for granted. The bell's iron tongue may no longer sound, but it's something that brings us all together, whether we are on the left or right. I am grateful to all the county leaders, past and present, who've made that important recognition.

Northampton County's Forgotten Liberty Bell Finally Recognized

Back in June, I first told you about Northampton County's historic Liberty Bell. Its iron tongue announced our Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776, at our first courthouse in Easton's circle. It echoed over twenty-four hours at the end of WWII, when thousands lined Easton's streets to tug at the bell that knelled the end of fascism.

Although this bell is all that remains of the original courthouse, judges just weren't thinking about our heritage when they planned their judicial expansion. If they did, they would never have permitted jackhammers to destroy the beautiful slate slabs that once surrounded our courthouse. Those reminded us of our history in the slate belt, but judges preferred luxurious marble for their crypt. So contractors ripped through those slate slabs day after day. I once saw former county exec Jerry Seyfried staring in disbelief at this pillage. This grizzled old steward had endured many storms in his years of county service, yet this brought him to tears.

Our bell sat in a lonely corner at the end of a unused hallway, with fast food menus and courtroom furniture littered all over it. No provision was made for this county treasure. It didn't match the marble.

After my June report, Mary T. Ensslin, Director of Court Services, proposed the bureaucrat's perfect solution to every problem - a committee. Eventually, it was decided there had to be two committees. And guess what? Two committees were insufficient - she had to form a task force. That's pretty much all Ensslin did before jumping ship for a job at Lehigh Valley Hospital, where she's probably already formed several dozen committees.

When County Exec Stoffa told Judge Moran we needed to move the county's Liberty Bell, Moran nearly exploded out of his black dress. Stoffa was in the very public courthouse rotunda at the time, and everyone walking in or out of the building witnessed Moran unleash an obscenity-laced diatribe against the county's highest elected official. Sheriffs scurried down the hallway in response to public complaints, only to see the waning moments of Moran's moronic moodswings. The bell, a symbol of our liberty, just didn't fit in with Moran's idea of a courthouse. Things weren't looking good for our Liberty Bell.

But then a few strange things happened. Express Times reporter Sarah Cassi wrote about our bell's sad plight, informing the public. And John Stoffa, in his most brilliant appointment yet as county executive, named Bill Hillandrand last Friday as his new Director of Court Services.

Since Bill is a deputy sheriff, you might wonder whether he understands the row offices. He does. This is one deputy sheriff who has spent years studying the most important function of all row offices - records retention. He chairs the county's records retention committee and even has a deep understanding of Northampton County's early history. He could regale you with stories about Northampton County's early history, including the imprisonment of its first lawyer. He's a good choice.

Bill Hillanbrand may have nothing to do with this, but in less than a week after his appointment,the Northampton County Liberty Bell is finally being moved. Its new location is immediately outside the rotunda, where every person entering or leaving the courthouse will be able to view and appreciate this reminder of our liberty. The move will occur today.

I want to express my deepest thanks to John Stoffa and Bill Hillanbrand for their recognition that this county has no future unless it remembers its history. And I wish to thank The Express Times for casting public light on the Liberty Bell's plight.

"Let the Bell speak out the great truth."

Update: The move will occur early next week.